What is often in a post-menopasual obese patient & presents as a palpable mass that you think may be breast CA until further study?

fat necrosis; since breast has lots of fatty tissue, subject to trauma or radiotherapy. Macro: well defined area <2cm, micro: anucleate fat cells surrounded by foamy histiocytes w/ Ca deposition & fibrosis (late)-->b/c fat is a lipid, so saponification of fat is a byproduct of calcium.

What breast change is in 50% of women & thought to be due to hormonal stimulation? 10% get clinically apparent dz manifest by periodic discomfort & palpable masses like Breast CA. Age?

fibrocystic change; 30-60 y/o age group;

In fibrocystic change, describe the microscopic lesions of a 30-45 y/o vs someone 40-menopause. What is thought to cause this?

if their axillary LN's are negative (or one w/ less than 4 positive ones); if pt has hormone receptors (ER or PR)b/c can remove estrogen influence or anti-estrogens like tamoxifen

Which monoclonal Ab drug has been shown to slow growth of HER-2 positive tumors. It blocks HER-2 receptors and controls growth.

Herceptin

Does chemo inc breast CA pt survivial?

yes, but if LN negative, reluctance to tx them w/ aggressive chemo-->should look at different prognostic factors

Pts w/ which gene amplification (aka erbB2/neu) have inc numbers of growth factor receptors, have more aggressive malignancies, and this is overexpressed in 25-35% of primary breast CA's and is assoc w/ inc risk of recurrent dz or shorter overall survivial?